Forms an icosahedral capsid with a T=7 symmetry and about 55 nm diameter. The capsid is composed of 72 pentamers linked to each other by disulfide bonds and associated with L2 proteins. The capsid encapsulates the genomic DNA, but does not bind DNA. Essential for the initial attachment to the host cell ().

Also known as Major capsid protein P3 (Protein P3).Major capsid protein self-assembles to form an icosahedral capsid with a pseudo T=25 symmetry, about 66 nm in diameter, and consisting of 240 capsid proteins trimers. The capsid encapsulates an inner membrane and the genomic dsDNA genome. The major coat protein P3 and two assembly factors (P10 and P17) are needed during the assembly of the vir

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us particle inside the host cell, when the capsid protein multimers are capable of enclosing the host-derived membrane, containing the virus-encoded membrane-associated proteins.